Mental health

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Promoting good mental health and wellbeing can help you feel empowered and more resilient to cope with life's stresses. The College’s Strategy 2015 to 2020 states we will be mindful of the need to promote good mental health and a healthy work life balance.

The idea of good mental health and wellbeing is best described as a subjective condition. For example, good social, economic, spiritual or medical health means that in a sense, the experience of life is positive or beneficial. Good mental health means that we are more able to respond to challenging circumstances, to innovate and constructively engage with others and the world around. It also represents a highly effective way of realising good outcomes in many different areas of our lives.

Good mental health is just as important to our lives as legs are to a table. It is an essential component for physical health and for happiness. Our goal is help you uncover and use some simple tools to improve the wellbeing of your body and mind.

What can I do to improve my mental health?

Talk about your feelings: Opening up about how you feel helps your wellbeing. It’s part of taking stock of your sense of self.

Keep in touch: Family and friends who know you well can offer different perspectives about how you feel and what you’re thinking. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems.

Acceptance: Some of us are funny, some are great at maths, others not so and others are great cooks. Everybody is different and accepting who you are is important.

Keep active: Research shows that exercise releases chemicals in the brain, inducing a strong sense of well-being.

Drink sensibly: People sometimes drink to feel better about different things ranging from loneliness to anxiety, what is important to remember is that the effect is only temporary. Overdoing it is like stealing happiness from tomorrow.Ask for help: None of us are superheroes. Sometimes we get tired, sometimes overwhelmed, especially when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you ask someone for help.

Do something you’re good at: Perhaps you like drawing, or maybe you’d rather be cooking. Whatever the activity try to find something you’re good at and can lose yourself in. To help identify what this might be think about what you used to love doing in the past, enjoying yourself helps relieve stress. Doing an activity you enjoy helps to achieve something and enhances your self-esteem.Caring for others: This is often overlooked but is an important part of keeping up relationships with those close to you. Whether it’s dropping in on a loved one in need or just sending a pleasant message to a friend’s email, don’t underestimate the power of helping others.

Resources

Supporting mental health at work

Wheel of Wellbeing

Body. Mind. Spirit. People. Place. Planet. Research is showing us how our health and happiness can be boosted by doing certain things on a day-to-day basis. The Wheel of Wellbeing is your guide to some of them.